NPD: PlayStation 3 takes the console lead, Beatles beat GH5

The NPD Group sales information for September shows a strong PlayStation 3, …

I hope you don't mind that we're talking about the September NPD numbers in truncated fashion in the gaming section rather than the front page. With the review of Borderlands going live today, we thought this was a better fit here this month. That being said, just how well did the market react to the PS3 price drop?

Here it is, in order of sales:

Nintendo DS - 524,200

PlayStation 3 - 491,800

Wii - 462,800

Xbox 360 - 352,600

PSP - 190,400

PlayStation 2 - 146,000

The demand for a $300 PlayStation 3 was certainly there, and with the release of Uncharted 2 on the horizon after the price drop, Sony was in the enviable position of having a great price point, redesigned hardware, and a killer-app to go along with it. Congratulations guys, that was well done.

Here is what was popular in software:

Halo 3: ODST - 360 - Microsoft - 1.52m

Wii Sports Resort with Motion Plus pack-in - Wii - Nintendo - 443K

Madden NFL 10 - 360 - EA - 290K

Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story - DS - Nintendo - 258K

The Beatles: Rock Band - 360 - EA - 254K

Madden NFL 10 - PS3 - EA - 247K

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 -360 - Activision - 236K

Batman: Arkham Asylum - PS3 -Eidos - 213K

Guitar Hero 5 - 360 - Activision - 211K

The Beatles: Rock Band - Wii - EA - 209K

Halo 3: ODST did the expected big business, although we weren't fans of the game. The Beatles: Rock Band did better business than Guitar Hero 5, although the competition was tight.

"We know all eyes are going to be on the Rock Band and Guitar Hero sales since the music/dance genre has been so closely followed by many this year," NPD Analyst Anita Frazier explained. "Both titles captured a spot in the top 10 for the month and at the item level, across all platforms, The Beatles: Rock Band came in third behind Halo 3: ODST and Madden NFL 10 while Guitar Hero 5 came in fourth.

Just in case you think Sony is getting all the love, check out the power of the 360 brand: "Across all categories, the Xbox 360 platform contributed the most to industry unit and dollar sales as sales of 360 hardware, software and accessories comprised 32 percent of the month's revenues," Frazier wrote.